Chapter 2 - The Cut Strap
The object was a small waterproof recording device.
Gabriel retrieved it from the water with a gloved hand.
Nobody spoke.
Julian stared at it as if he'd seen a ghost.
“What is that?” I asked.
Gabriel didn't answer.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Probably nothing.”
Julian's head turned toward her.
“Don't.”
One word.
Victoria stopped.
The doctor tried to move Julian toward the estate.
Julian refused.
“Take me somewhere private.”
Gabriel nodded.
I started to follow.
Victoria blocked me.
“You've done enough.”
I looked at her.
“I saved his life.”
“You jumped into a lake without permission.”
“Would you rather I had waited?”
Her expression hardened.
Before she could answer, Julian spoke.
“She's coming.”
Victoria turned.
“Julian—”
“She saved me.”
His voice was quiet.
“She stays.”
We entered the estate.
The ballroom was still decorated for the celebration.
White flowers.
Champagne.
Music.
Everything looked normal.
That made it worse.
Julian was taken into a private sitting room.
A physician examined him while Gabriel locked the door.
I stood near the window.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
Julian noticed.
“You're cold.”
“I'll be fine.”
“You're lying.”
“So are you.”
The room went silent.
Gabriel looked at me.
Julian almost smiled.
“She's observant.”
“I used to be a lifeguard.”
“I know.”
Again, that strange feeling.
“How?”
Julian didn't answer.
The doctor finished checking him.
“You need a hospital.”
“No.”
“Julian.”
“No hospital.”
The doctor looked at Gabriel.
Gabriel nodded reluctantly.
When they left, Julian looked at me.
“You were hired eleven days ago.”
“Yes.”
“Your references were excellent.”
“Thank you.”
“You lied on your application.”
My stomach tightened.
“About what?”
“You said you had never worked for a private security firm.”
I stared at him.
“I haven't.”
“You worked for Bell Security.”
I went still.
“My brother did.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“Andrew Bennett.”
I felt the room disappear.
“My brother died six years ago.”
“I know.”
“Why were you investigating him?”
Julian looked toward the closed door.
“I wasn't.”
“Then who was?”
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“You knew my name before I told you. You knew about my brother. You knew I lied on my application. Now there's a recording device attached to your wheelchair.”
Julian looked at me.
“Do you want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“I don't know who pushed me.”
That surprised me.
“But I know why.”
“Why?”
“Because someone believes I remember something that happened twenty-six months ago.”
I frowned.
“What happened?”
Julian looked down at his legs.
“An accident.”
His voice became distant.
“My car went over a bridge.”
“And you survived.”
“Barely.”
“Was it an accident?”
He looked at me.
“No.”
A knock came at the door.
Gabriel entered.
“The recording device is damaged.”
Julian nodded.
“Can you recover anything?”
“One file.”
Gabriel placed a tablet on the table.
A waveform appeared.
Then static.
Then a man's voice.
Julian leaned forward.
The recording began.
“You have three minutes.”
A second voice answered.
“Is he still alive?”
Gabriel stopped breathing.
Julian's face went pale.
Because the second voice belonged to someone standing inside the house.
Someone who was currently listening to the recording.
Then the speaker said:
“Make sure Julian never remembers what happened that night.”
Victoria's voice.
The room became silent.
May you like
Claire looked toward the door.
It was already opening...
